SAS sulks: There have been muttering in the ranks in the wake of the Prime Minister’s visit to his favourite Perth address on Wednesday – SAS headquarters in Swanbourne. Campbell Barracks is a no photography zone, unless the PM is there to wave the troops goodbye. And the rest of the Army is feeling unloved. Every time there’s a job to be done, it gets given to the SAS. “What about us?” the rest are asking with ever-increasing frequency. “No wonder morale is down and recruiting at an all-time low,” they mumble.

Seat swap: “A furious Lawrence Springborg last night threatened to break off state coalition talks after accusing the Liberals’ Queensland president and newly-elected MP Michael Caltabiano of a breach of faith,” The Courier Mail reports today. Charles Richardson’s proposal in yesterday’s Crikey that the Queensland Nationals and the Liberal Party resolve their differences by swapping over the seats they went backwards in at the last State Election, Broadwater and Burleigh, may cause a stir. Using this rationale local Libs in Noosa, Albert and Capalaba would all be a little nervous right now – as their performance last time round means their seats would be up for grabs by the Nats.

Erica beast salts the wounds: “At a recent meeting of the Heidelberg branch of the Young Liberals, Salt Shakers Executive Director, Peter Stokes, declared homosexuals to be the greatest threat to society,” Rodney Croome writes in the Tasmanian Times. “In a recent newsletter the same man condemned the Australian Government for its current practice of illuminating Parliament House to mark the Hindu Festival of Lights – his reason: the Bible says there is only one God. Salt Shakers might not matter to most Tasmanians. We like to think we’ve put this kind of bigotry behind us. But on Saturday night Salt Shakers inaugural annual dinner will be addressed by leading Tasmanian Liberal Senator, and Federal Government Minister, Eric Abetz. The timing couldn’t be worse. According to recent surveys in Victoria, hate crimes against gays and lesbians, and against Muslims, are increasing at an alarming rate.” More here.